Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-02-17
NTON- NC. THURSDAY. FEBRU
No States Rights in ais,n.
IRoSToN, NIo January %. 1887.

y
Ed. Regtste7,-In several of your re-
cent issues you have criticised the find
ing of indictments in the United States
District Court, at St. Louis, against
persons for forgt ry, perjury, Illegal vet-
ing and other crimes, at and in eonnec-
ton with the last general election
AsI understand it, your position is,
that the state laws and the state courts
are alone competent and should alone
take hold of these matters. And,
though an act of Congress makes it a
crime, cogniZable in the Federal courts.
for anyone 10 perpetrate she above acts
at an election at which members Of
Congress and other Federal officers are
elected, it is, nevertheless, a kind of
usurpation for said Federal courts to
take up these matters, and that such
acts of Congress and action of the court
are violation of the doctrine of States
Rights
Allow your humble servant to take
issue with you upon all these positions.
And, first, though it is not argument,
allow me to say that tie latter part Of
the above is simply "States Rights run
mad" And that, too, when Lees last
cannon shot sounded the death knell,
and Joe Johnson's surrender was the
burial of The Estates Rights Gs sou-
ereigrs in anything. Sir; 'the logic Of
events,n the result Of the civil war
teaches. if it teaches anything, that no
state has any right which can exist
against the election and vote of two
thirds of the union; it teaches more: it
teaches that even majorlty-being
the more powerful-may 0verturu ex-
isting institutions, and even the form
of government. Then, sir, there is no
such thing as Estates Rights" It is
untrue that the rights not granted to
the Federal government were reserved
and only thosa bo0ns allowed to be ex-
ercised which are granted to the sepa-
rate states by collection Or federation
Of states. This is not as it was Intend
Ell or as it should be, but as il is. But
| this is mere :zncing.
| Now, sir, since the constitution oil
| the United States, the organic law oil
/ the land, gives to Congress and to each
/ house thereof, the right to pass upon
the qualification for membership, which
t includes election, it is fair, right. and
/ in pursuance of that constitution thai
said body should have power 70 regu
late bv law the said election Of mem bers
3 Tie right to enact such law is granted
by plain implication III the grant of Uhs
right to pass upon the qualification
and election. Then, if Congress has
the right To regulate Ey law the elec,
ti0u Of mem bers of its own body, 1t has
|. also right and power to enact further
law to punish violation Of election laws
u And these laws being in existence it il
right that the Federal courts should
enforce them. There is no ether tri
bnnal herein they may be enforced
It wuuld lie still more fragrant breach
Of the states rights, than that of which
YOU complain, to compel the state
courts to enforce Federal legislation O
this nature. But, sir, this Federal leg
islaticn is no violation Of the doctrine
of states rights. For the states, whet
they adopted the constitution Of 1887
5 in place of the articles of confederation
expressly granted to Congress, and t
both branches thereof the right t.
Judge and pass upon the qualification
of its members, and regulate their eIee
ton and by plain implication and. by
; common and known rule eofconstructiol
in law, all powers and rights are grant
ed. which are in anywise requisite an
necessary for the carrying out and int
effect the original grant. Then thes
/ prosecutions are not in violation
these states rights. Sections and
Art. /, Constitution United States.
Now, sir, if this interference on th
part Of Federal officials at these eles
tions to prevent frauds and indie
naents fo.. frauds at these elections
both in pursuance OF unquestionahl
law, fer the purpose of preventing I'll
wrongful and unlawful return and eie'
tien of Federal officers, be objection;
BILE. on account of state, county an
city officers being elected at the san
time: if it be desirable that the bose
boaGIers, shysters and scoundreis eve
- vwhrre found swarming around II
voters and polling places, standing
dead mems shoes, voting in dead men
nanles. registering from vacant lots
fictitious and non-existent names
sav if these things be desirable To hav
ic then, Mr. Editor, they can be had
= simply changing the time of hoidir
our state, county and city election
and then we may have them; at ieas
in st. Louis, which is law unto itse
But to come back TO the subject.
These acts for which these indie
naents found were crimes Under t
Federal law Being such, had .Iud
Treat and Mr.. Bliss, having knowiesi
r. of them, faiIed to call attention to thel
then would have violated the law a
GRAND